Palestinian Authority:
Palestinian Legislative
Council

The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), also referred to as the Palestinian Parliament, is a unicameral body with 132 members elected from 16 electoral districts in the West Bank and Gaza. It is the legislature of the Palestinian Authority. The PLC has limited power and responsibilities, restricted to civil matters and internal security in Area A of the West Bank and in Gaza. The PLC was inaugurated for the first time on March 7, 1996.

The Palestinian Legislative Council passed a new law in June 2005 increasing the number of members from 88 to 132, stipulating that half be elected under a system of proportional representation and half by plurality-at-large voting in traditional constituencies. The last parliamentary elections took place on January 25, 2006.

The Palestinian legislative council has been unable to meet and govern since 2007 due to the Israeli imprisonment of some members, the Fatah–Hamas conflict and the indefinite postponing of elections by the Fatah leadership.

The emblem used for the Palestinian Legislative Council is referred to as the "Eagle of Saladin."